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If you’re thinking of an idyllic, summery week in Italy’s glorious Amalfi, images of a sun-drenched Positano are likely the first ones that will come to mind:

That picturesque volcanic beach dotted with blue-and-white-striped parasols, pastel-hue houses hanging to the side of vertiginous cliffs, and scenic vespa rides into blood-orange sunsets… If only it weren’t awfully busy and prohibitively expensive.

Overnights in budget hotels and B&Bs start at $200-300 per night, while mid-range to luxury will set you back by a whopping $900-1,500.

Add to that an average $68 for casual dining and other equally inflated secondary costs, and you’re looking at thousands of dollars in expenses for the week.

Amalfi is indeed gorgeous, but it isn’t really worth breaking the bank for—but hey, something most Amalfi-bound tourists forget is that Positano, however central it may be, is not the only base available for exploring the picture-perfect coast.

Discover Ravello, Amalfi’s Last Hidden Gem

For decades now, everyone’s been sleeping on Ravello, a mountain settlement 365 meters above the Tyrrhenian Sea, and it’s finally time it got the recognition it deserves.

Set a short 45-minute drive from Positano, and an even shorter 13 minutes from Amalfi, the settlement after which the 31-mile stretch of coast is named, it is a laid-back resort town nestled in the Southern Italian hills, often bypassed as it’s not directly on the coast.

Tourists often prefer to stay directly in Positano, as it’s considered ‘iconic’ and the quintessential Amalfi town, or the lively Sorrento, drawn to the buzzing marina and high-end amenities, draining their bank accounts while paying an equally beautiful, and far more affordable Ravello dust:

Here’s why you shouldn’t make that same mistake:

One Of The Most Beautiful Towns In The Amalfi Coast

For starters, Ravello is simply one of the most beautiful towns in Amalfi, as well as the most serene, perhaps:

With an absence of beach clubs and obvious Instagram-friendly spots, visitors are primarily drawn to the region’s rich cultural tapestry, romantic vistas, and tranquility—it’s no wonder it’s been a favorite of writers visiting the region, like Richard Wagner.

The historic center is like something out of a storybook, with stone-paved streets flanked by pastel-hue buildings and alleys leading to lush gardens and secluded villas.

By the way, two incredibly historic Southern Italian villas are situated here: Villa Rufolo, dating back to the 13th century and distinguished by its Moorish-inspired interior, and Villa Cimbrione, famous for its terraced garden overlooking the Mediterranean.

History lovers will also appreciate the well-preserved medieval cathedral, Duomo di Ravello, built in the 11th century, dedicated to St. Pantaleone, featuring a magnificent marble pulpit, and the fact that Villa Rufolo itself has Roman-era foundations.

Ravello Is A Lot Cheaper Than Positano

Affordability also plays a massive part in making Ravello more appealing to budget-conscious travelers than Positano.

Well, let’s rephrase it: it’s not exactly affordable, per se, but it is definitely on the cheaper end for Amalfi standards: Positano is well-known for its luxury hotels, some exceeding $1,000 per night in summer, while mid-range options are still a jaw-dropping $200 per night.

Ravello, on the other hand, has a wide range of fairly inexpensive accommodations: for instance, booking a single room at the privately managed B&B Ravello Rooms, within walking distance of Cathedral Square, will set you back a very reasonable $89 a night, breakfast included.

Nestled higher up on the hill, with a view of Ravello and the sea, Il Rifugio del Poeta, which, as the name suggests, feels like a poet’s refuge, will set you back by $137 per night: double room, amazing sunset vistas, and breakfast in the mix.

For something a little more luxurious yet within reason, there’s Gala Residence Villa Giovanna, a 4-star listing known for its airy, modern amenities, proximity to the Old Town (the cathedral is 300 meters away), and continental breakfast. It costs $287 a night.

Trust us, you won’t find better deals anywhere in Amalfi during summer.

Cheaper Food Than Average

When it comes to dining expenses, food is usually less expensive, too: we wouldn’t be going out for dinner in Positano with less than a hundred bucks in the wallet, but in Ravello, you can enjoy delicious meals at lower prices.

La Terraza Di Giuliana is a cozy pizzeria where you can have fresh caprese or made-on-the-spot sourdough pizza for around $9. Babel Wine Bar is popular for bruschetta with goat cheese and caramelized onions and charcuterie boards, with prices ranging from $18 to $35.

For homemade gelato, check out Baffone up Via Roma. On the odd evening when you feel like treating yourself a little, Salvatore Ravello 1958 is a traditional seafood eatery boasting views of the Mediterranean.

While there are always exceptions, and you shouldn’t be under the illusion that Ravello is your usual, traditional budget-friendly destination by any means, it tends to provide better value for travelers than Positano.

It’s Not On The Coast, But It’s Close Enough

Ravello may not be on the coast, but it is the starting point for several trails leading down to the waterfront, at the bottom of the hill.

A popular activity for overnight stayers is hiking down to Atrani, along stone steps and lush Mediterranean vegetation: at the end of the 1.5-mile walk, you’ll find another lesser-known medieval gem by the sea, equally overlooked by tourists.

Otherwise, you may attempt the longer, 2.2-mile walk through the Valle dei Mulini, a valley dotted with lemon groves and ancient Roman ruins, culminating in the town of Amalfi, home to a landmark cathedral and a bustling marina.

About an hour’s walk from Ravello, Minori is connected to it via the Sentiero dei Limoni, or Path of the Lemons. It is perfect for sampling traditional pastries (make sure you try the local sal de riso). A further one mile from Minori, there’s Maiori, a modern beach town.

Oh, and did we mention that Scala, the oldest town on the Amalfi Coast, is similarly a 45-minute walk from Ravello?

Visit the Romanesque cathedral, which dates back to the 12th century and is beautifully frescoed, or explore the ruins of the medieval Basilica Sant’Eustachio.

Lastly, sample the local cheese at the sophisticated, Michelin-starred Palazzo Avino.

On top of its proximity to several of Amalfi’s top destinations, Ravello is conveniently located halfway between the Amalfi Coast’s two airports.

Naples International Airport (NAP), set to host flights from Chicago-O’Hare, New York-JFK, Newark, Philadelphia, and Atlanta from May, is a 1h20-drive to Ravello, whereas driving from the region’s secondary hub, Salerno Costa d’Amalfi Airport (QSR), is 1h10.

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We all know Rome is an instantly recognizable icon that lures all levels of travelers, from first-timers to the most seasoned of us with beat-up passports.

As such, we all know Rome’s crowds can be a bit out of control. Perhaps more so in a Jubilee Year. Not to trash one of the world’s most renowned cities, but it’s safe to say 2025 isn’t the best year to visit for the best possible experience.

According to Travel + Leisure, one local innkeeper was quoted as saying, ““If you’re coming in 2025, you should plan ahead for accommodation, sights like the Colosseum and the Vatican Museums, for all the things you need reservations and tickets for”.

Plus, Rome’s new tourist taxes are taking a bite from your coffee budget, and what better country to indulge in velvety cappuccinos?

Rome aside, there’s obviously a treasure trove of premiere destinations to immerse in Italy’s fascinating timeline, such as the romantic streets of Florence, ancient wonders of Pompeii, or whatever you believe about the Shroud of Turin, which has garnered more attention as of late with new findings.

But hey, let’s not sleep on Italy’s postcard coastlines either, where you don’t have to venture all the way down to the Amalfi Coast or Sicily.

Just 1 hour from Rome lies one of Italy’s most hush-hush paradises — and TimeOut just let the cat out of the bag.

Day Trip Or Main Stay, Don’t Skip Terracina!

Terracina is located on Italy’s Pontine Coast. Between Rome and Naples lies numerous secluded beach towns falling in the shadow of this pair of cultural cities.

With many tourists being more food and wine focused, beach getaways fall to the wayside, leaving a cluster of coastal paradises relatively undiscovered by mainstream travelers who care more about Rome’s Colosseum and Naples’ endless rows of pizza parlors.

TimeOut believes Terracina stands out the most, despite Sperlonga, Sabaudia, and Nettuno being worthwhile beach hideaways in their own right.

Terracina is perched between the foothills of Monte Sant’Angelo and the vibrant Tyrrhenian Sea, boasting a charming waterfront promenade and timeless Old Town giving a glimpse into the bygone era of Romans, while also embracing more modern acclaim as a seafood hub with TimeOut-backed Vicoletto.

For what its’ worth, Old Town Terracina is renowned by visitors on TripAdvisor with one recent tourist claiming ‘Terracina surprised us! Walking on the ancient pavement of the square transforms the visitor into a real Roman citizen’.

Terracina’s Best Beaches

Where to start? Terracina is speckled with gleaming blue-water shores from the jump, connecting from each end of town to aforementioned neighbors.

Spiaggia Sperlonga is Terracina’s top-reviewed beach on Google (technically one town over). One beachgoer said it’s a ‘clean beach, possibility of long walks, fantastic sunsets, kiosks present with excellent food’.

Fiumetta Beach is another top-rated beach, but locals are ashamed of the trash left behind. According to recent reviews, the aftermath of a many-a good times has presented painful moments of stepping on beer caps, which might be worse than LEGO pieces!

There are numerous beach hotels to choose from whether in Terracina proper or the connecting towns of Porte Dabino.

There you’ll find one of travelers’ favorite stays, Torre del Sol, a 4-star beachfront hotel with fantastic sea views and a $3 shuttle to go out and about town.

As for Terracina, you simply can’t beat the serenity of Hotel Acquasanta, which is nestled away from the “action” on a private beach and won’t break the bank at about $130 per night.

All Aboard! Easy 1-Hour Train Ride From Rome

Given Terracina is home to just 44,000 residents, you’ve probably gathered there’s no direct flight here.

The easiest journey is to fly into Rome and hop aboard a train that takes 51 to 69 minutes, depending on the schedule that day.

Operated by Trenitalia, you can purchase tickets on their official website or popular third parties like Omio.

Best of all, it’s as low as $4, according to Trainline. The official website has it listed for $6 most days.

Local publication Terracina Online claims the $16 Leonardo Express takes arriving tourists from Rome’s Fiumicino airport to Rome Termini, where there’s a direct train to Terracina every hour.

You could also take a train from Naples, also operated by Trenitalia, but expect to tack on another 30 to 45 minutes to your trip as well as a few more dollars.

Omio has $10 tickets on sale from Naples.

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One city in Italy has been dubbed the world’s new “Silicon Valley”.

Unlike San Francisco (actually Silicon Valley’s base), there’s no sign of sky-high rent rates and a spattering of crime waves pushing remote workers away – quite the opposite, actually.

While Rome, Venice, and the jaw-dropping Amalfi Coast will always be travelers’ go-to spots to immerse themselves in Italy’s renowned cultural delights, ranging from bucket-list wonders, phenomenal eats, and postcard beaches, one city in Sicily, which is somehow overlooked, is now proclaimed as the country’s latest digital nomad hotspot.

That’s right; the vibrant capital of Sicily, home to pizzas and piazzas, has become a haven for remote workers who’ve embraced the opportunity to reside in this laid-back, blue-water paradise.

More Americans Setting Up Shop In Palermo

It’s estimated Palermo, a city of nearly 700,000 people overlooking the stunning Tyrrhenian Sea, has already drawn in 1,000 new “residents,” with many Americans leading the charge.

Sicily is a name we all know, but you’d be surprised that most travelers favor the mainland’s aforementioned icons.

Digital nomads are discovering what others have been missing out on. First and foremost, Palermo (and all of Sicily, really) is splendid to visit any time of year for the views alone, but right now, heading into spring, the weather is hovering comfortably in the 60s and topping out in the high 80s in summer.

As you can see, as digital nomads begin to wrap up their winter sun needs, there’s no need to pack up and go in a hurry, especially with a welcoming community beginning to bloom with new co-working spaces popping up such as PMO Coworking, highlighted by Nomad Capitalist among the best in Europe.

Of All the Italian Cities To Make Your Base, Why Palermo?

Some of Europe’s most renowned cities can be the most costly, and Italy is no different.

Coming full circle, Palermo is a great spot for digital nomads not only because it’s embracing a new identity as a startup hub but also because you can experience Italy’s captivating culture, unmatched cuisine, and astounding scenery without breaking the bank – typically numero uno on digital nomads’ list of concerns.

Long-term stays on Airbnb can be found under $900 for a private apartment, and most are within walking distance to the beach and Palermo’s timeless city center.

Better yet, oftentimes local agencies are even cheaper than major platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo.

Known for epic seafood and cheap pizza, digital nomads’ savings on rent will likely go toward dining out since the food scene is impossible to pass over.

During downtime between work tasks, there are plenty of things to do and see. Obviously, Sicily’s breathtaking beaches are the top attraction.

According to TripAdvisor, these are Palermo’s top 3 beaches to visit:

• Spiaggia di Mondello
• Lido Valdesi
• Lido Sferracavello

Inland from the coast, you’ll discover picturesque ornate piazzas home to inviting street markets, staggering cathedrals like the unmissable Palermo Cathedral, and numerous cafes to start your day or use as an office with a warm cappuccino in hand.

Overall, Palermo ranks 22nd globally as top digital nomad destination.

Italy’s Digital Nomad Visa

Sure, you could just stay in Palermo to escape the frigid cold of much of the world, but what’s the fun in that when you can stay all year?

Italy launched its official digital nomad visa last spring. Obviously, travelers had a lot of questions like “what took so long?!”.

For real though, like most visas, there’s an expansive list of requirements, which you can read all about here, but we’ll cover the basics.

Basic requirements:

• Prove earned income of roughly $30,000 to ensure you’re exempt from healthcare costs
• Purchase a comprehensive health insurance policy valid for your entire stay
• No first-timers; must have worked remotely for 6 months prior to Italy arrival
• No criminal record in the last 5 years

Digital nomad visas are valid for a full calendar year and have the possibility for an extension of up to 2 years.

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Last Updated 1 month ago

When it comes to a place as iconic and stunningly diverse as Italy, it can be hard to pick a single place to visit and even harder to differentiate between the unmissable gems and the overhyped tourist traps.

Milan, in particular, has always been the subject of an ongoing debate among travelers, with some insisting it’s one of Italy’s most visit-worthy cities and others claiming it’s a waste of both time and money.

So I decided to take a leap and see for myself – is Milan actually worth visiting, and more importantly, can you do it on a budget?

After four amazing days in the city, I’m happy to report that the north Italian gem is not only one of the most stunning places I’ve ever seen in my life, but I was actually able to have an incredible time on less than $100 a day.

Here’s how:

Finding Low-Cost Accommodation In Milan

Accommodation might be the trickiest thing to do on a budget in Milan, especially if you have certain expectations regarding location or overall quality, but it’s not impossible.

The no. 1 tip I can give you here is to prioritize Airbnb over hotels.

I know that Airbnbs have notoriously become more expensive than hotels in most destinations, but after searching for the perfect affordable place to stay for at least a month, I can confidently say that Milan is not one of them.

Places like these (1, 2) while unassuming, are still comfy, clean, and conveniently located, offering excellent value for the money (assuming you’re traveling with a companion, the nightly cost ends up somewhere around $40-$55 per person).

You’ll notice that both of these apartments are located in Porta Venezia – in my opinion, that’s the best area for a tourist to stay in the city.

You’re close to both the city center (~25-minute walk) and Milano Centrale, the main train and bus station (~15-minute walk), and believe me, if you don’t have your own car, you’ll want to be close to Minano Centrale because that’s where you’ll go for every day trip and airport transfer.

The neighborhood itself is peaceful but still lively and near great shops and bars, and you even have access to a beautiful park (Indro Montanelli). 

Getting Around The City

OK, so you want to be close to Milano Centrale for all inter-city trips, but what about getting around Milan itself? How do you do that and how much can you expect to pay?

The easiest and most convenient mode of transportation here is by metro, no competition.

There’s a station at almost every corner, and as long as you do your best to understand how the system works, you should get the hang of it in no time.

Basically, there are three main lines that cover most of the city, Red (M1), Green (M2), and Yellow (M3), each with its own set of stops which you can learn more about here.

Still, as a tourist, you might have a challenging time figuring out what station you need to get to and what line you should take, so I highly recommend you download the ATM Milano App.

You just type in your location and where you need to go, and the app will come up with an exact itinerary of how to get to the right metro station near you, what line to take, and where to stop, and it’s definitely a time and headache-saver.

Even with the app, though, you’ll still want to pay close attention to the signs and maps displayed inside metro stations as well as the digital displays inside the actual metros to make sure you’re going in the right direction.

As far as pricing is concerned, a single ticket (which can be used as many times as you want within a 90-minute time frame) costs 2.2€ or ~$2.5, while a 3-day pass costs 15.5€ or ~$17.

Eating Out And Well Doesn’t Have To Be Expensive

Eating out in Milan can get pretty expensive – there are probably thousands of restaurants and fast food joints in the city and most of them are obvious tourist traps with sky-high prices and mediocre food.

With that said, there are still some places where you can get amazing, great-value food, even in more touristy areas.

Case in point, Luna Rossa.

It doesn’t look like much from the outside, but as soon as you get in, you’re hit with that typical Italian trattoria charm.

It’s busy, loud, and unpretentious – the food is great, the service is quick, and a main dish + glass of wine shouldn’t cost you more than $15.

Bonus point, it’s just an 8-minute walk from the Duomo.

Other places I ate at (and loved) during my trip to Milan include Fresca Pasta Club, Salad House, and Pizza e Mozzarella.

For dessert, my go-tos would be Gelato Fatto Con Amore and Spùn Tiramisù.

The Same Goes For Entertainment

With accommodation, food, and transportation covered, it’s time to delve into what it costs to do other touristy activities in Milan, you know, things like visiting a museum, exploring a historical attraction, or going out for a cocktail.

With museums, you’ll want to try your best to time your visit to Milan so that you’re here during the first Sunday of the month – some of the city’s most coveted historical and cultural attractions are free to enter on that day alone.

If that’s not possible, you’ll want to aim for either the first or third Tuesday of the month, when there will still be some gorgeous museums you can enter for free (places that charge anywhere between $5 and $25 per ticket the rest of the month).

With Duomo, you’ll have to pay for a ticket no matter the time of the month you go, but there are a few tips I can give you to get the most out of the experience:

• Only purchase from the official website or on-site
• Check discount policies
• If you’re reasonably fit, choose the Combo Stairs ticket instead of the Combo Lift – there are only 200 stairs, the lines for the lift can get insane during specific times of the day, and there’s no descending lift, so you’ll still have to make your way down by foot
• Make use of the 10% discount code for the gift shop that comes with any Combo Ticket

Now when it comes to bars, the best places to go for those on a budget are definitely neighborhoods like Porta Romana or Porta Venezia, where cocktails cost anywhere between $8 and $10.

If you’re set on having a drink with a gorgeous view of the Duomo, my top recommendation would be SunEleven Rooftop Bar – for just $16 a cocktail you get great service and the most incredible backdrop.

So, with all of that said, what can you expect the average day in Milan to cost you?

• Airbnb – $45
• Breakfast + coffee (espresso) – $6
• Sightseeing + museum tour – $0
• Lunch – $18
• Cocktail – $10
• Dinner – $15

All of that adds up to a total of $94, well under $100.

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